Multi-chambered syringe

ABSTRACT

A syringe having two reservoirs each adapted to contain a separate material, the materials being normally incompatible, having means whereby said materials can be mixed together in the syringe without affecting their sterile condition, and having means whereby the mixture of such materials can be ejected from the syringe.

United States Patent 1191 11 3,835,855 Barr, Jr. Sept. 17, 1974 [5 1 MULTI-CHAMBERED SYRINGE 3,275,000 9/1966 Bowen 128/218 M 3,303,846 2/1967 Ogle 128/218 M [76] lnvemors i gig' gj ggzg f 3,678,930 7 1972 Schwartz 128/218 M a g Y 9101 1 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 Assistant Examiner-Henry J. Recla I pp NO 295,864 Attorney, Agent, or F1rm--Harr1s, Kern, Wallen &

Tmsley 521 :LS. Cl 128/218 M 57 ABSTRACT 51 nt. Cl A6lm 5/18 l [58] Field of Search 128/218 M, 218 P 218 PA, A syrmge havmg tworeservolrs each adapted to con- 128/2l8 R 218 G 218 C 218 D 220 235 tam a separate materlal, the materlals bemg normally incompatible, having means whereby said materials can be mixed together in the syringe without affecting [56] References cued their sterile condition, and having means whereby the UNITED STATES PATENTS mixture of such materials can be ejected from the sy- 1,279,069 9/1918 Yoshida 128/218 M rin 6. 3,126,004 3/1964 Sarnoff g 3,255,752 6/1966 Dick 128/218 M 8 Claims 6 Drawing Flgules MULTI-CHAMBERED SYRINGE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The general background of this invention is adequately set forth in the following United States patents: No. 3,303,846, issued Feb. 14, 1967; No. 3,401,693, issued Sept. 17, 1968; No. 3,527,216, issued Mar. 17, 1969; No. 3,552,387, issued .Ian. 5, 1971', and No. 3,557,787, issued Jan. 26, 1971.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide a hypodermic syringe assembly including two axially spaced compartments or reservoirs for separately storing two normally incompatible medicaments prior to use, with readily operable valve means between the reservoirs for opening communication therebetween to permit mixing of the medicaments just prior to use, and means for ejecting the mixture from the syringe and into a patient, user, or other object.

Further objects of the invention are to provide such a syringe which is cheap to manufacture, and thus economically disposable after use, which is foolproof for storage and operation, insuring that the medicaments are at all times maintained sterile and out of contact with possibly contaminating ambient atmosphere, and which has means for visually indicating any prior tampering with the syringe prior to intended use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a syringe having first and second tubular reservoirs, the second reservoir telescoping into the first reservoir and carrying a plunger which fits into the first reservoir, the second reservoir being axially movable relative to the plunger to open or close communication between the reservoirs, there being means for limiting relative movement between the second reservoir and the plunger. Also, it is an object to provide such a syringe having means for locking the plunger relative to the second reservoir to prevent relative movement therebetween.

THE DRAWING In the drawing which is for the purpose of illustration and which shows a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the parts in their initial positions;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the upper portion of FIG. 2, showing the parts in alternative and open positions;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lower end of FIG. 2, showing the parts in alternative and operating positions;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a hypodermic syringe 10 which, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, includes a tubular outer barrel 1 1 which constitutes a first reservoir means, a tubular inner barrel 12 which constitutes a second reservoir means, a plunger 13, and a nose assembly 14.

The outer barrel 11 includes a cylindrical body portion 16 provided at its upper end (as seen in the drawing) with a first external annular flange l7 and at its lower end (as so seen) with a restricted neck 18 having thereon a second external flange 19 to which the nose assembly 14 is attached.

The inner barrel 12 is shown as made in two parts, a cylindrical vial 20 to which is screw threaded a cylindrical vial neck 21 provided at its outer or lower end with a first external annular neck flange 22 and with a second annular neck flange 23 intermediate the length of the neck 21, although the vial 20 and neck 21 may be made in one piece if desired.

The plunger 13 is formed of a resilient material, such as, for example, rubber, and is generally cup-shaped in form, having a generally cylindrical outer wall 25 the outside of which is provided with annular corrugations 26 which fit closely into the inner wall of the body 16 to form a seal therewith as described hereinafter. The plunger has an end wall 27 provided with a cylindrical boss or plug 28 to provide an annular groove 29 with which communicates a pair of ports or channels 30 extending through the end wall. On the inner face of the outer wall 25 is an annular internal flange 32. At the open end of the plunger 13 is an annular external flange 33 which is connected to the main body of the plunger by a thin wall 34, the flange 33 being provided around its periphery with notches 35, as shown in FIG. 5. The plunger 13 is initially retained against movement relative to the inner barrel 12 by a cap ring 36, as shown in FIG. 2, which spans the flange 17 on the body 16 and the flange 33 on the plunger 13. The cap ring 36 is formed of a deformable and removable material, such as pharmaceutical type aluminum seal or plastic. If made of plastic material it can be provided with an inwardly extending tab 37 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The nose assembly 14 includes a generally tubular body 39, preferably formed of a resilient material, such as, for example, rubber, having an inner extension 40 which fits closely into the neck 18 of the body 16 to provide a seal therewith, the extension 40 having a thin web 41. The body 39 also has a generally cylindrical outer extension 42 having a main tapered bore 43 which connects with a counterbore 44 in the inner extension 40. The body 39 also has an annular external flange 46 which abuts against the outer end of the neck 18 and is secured thereto by an annular clampring 47 preferably formed of metal. Fitted into the body 39 is a plug 48, formed of a deformable material such as rubber, having an externally corrugated main body 49 which fits snugly into the tapered bore 43, having an inner boss 50 which fits snugly into the counterbore 44 and having an outer boss 51 adapted to receive a removable needle cover 52 adapted to initially cover and maintain sterile a hollow needle 53 provided with pointed inner and outer ends'54 and 55, respectively, the needle being carried by the plug 48.

In its preferred use, before complete assembly ofthe syringe 10 and with the inner barrel l2 and plunger 13 detached from the outer barrel 11, and the inner barrel and plunger detached from each other, the outer barrel 11 is filled under aseptic conditions to a desired extent with a first medicament, such as a dry powder, and the inner barrel is similarly filled with a second medicament such as a solvent or diluent, the two medicaments being incompatible for lengthy storage after being mixed together. The parts of the syringe then are assembled as shown in FIG. 2. As so assembled under sterile conditions, the two medicaments are isolated from each other and from possible contamination by ambient atmosphere or by handling of the syringe, as is the needle 53. In such condition, the syringe may be retained over long periods of time after assembly and before use, providing a long shelf life for the article.

When it is desired to inject a mixture of the two medicaments into a patient, the inner barrel 12 is pulled away from the outer barrel 11 and the plunger 13 then attached to the outer barrel, from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Outward movement of the inner barrel 12 relative to the outer barrel 1] is limited by engagement of the external flange 22 of the neck 21 with the internal flange 32 of the plunger 13, as shown in FIG. 3. This deters or prevents the inner barrel 12 from being detached inadvertently from the outer barrel 11, which is an object of the invention. Such relative movement of the barrels 1 1 and 12 moves the tab 37 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3, to indicate such relative movement. The tab 37 thus acts as a telltale to indicate visually such movement, and to assure the user that the syringe has not been tampered with prior to his intended use, and this is another object of the invention.

Such outward movement of the inner barrel 12 relative to the plunger 13 withdraws the neck 21 and its external neck flange 22 from the boss 28, which had initially served as a stopper for the open end of the neck 21, and from the groove 29 to open communication between the interiors of the inner and outer barrels through the ports 30. Such relative movement is primarily a straight-line movement, largely avoiding any necessity of relative rotational movement therebetween, which is another object of the invention, substantially simplifying usage of the syringe 10, although some initial relative rotational movement may be employed to break any set that may have developed between the plunger and the barrel.

With the parts of the syringe 10 in their relative positions shown in FIG. 3, the liquid medicament in the inner barrel 12 may be transferred into the outer barrel 11 through the ports 30 by simply shaking the syringe. When such transfer has been effected the medicaments mix in the outer barrel 1 1 and the mixture is then ready for injection into the patient. At this time, the needle cover 52 on the nose assembly 14 is then moved inwardly relative to the plug 48, compressing the plug and moving the needle 53 so that its inner end 54 pierces the web 41 and extends into the outer barrel 16, as shown in FIG. 4, in which position the mixture in the outer barrel may be expelled therefrom through the needle.

After the two medicaments have been mixed, as described above, the inner barrel 12 is moved from its position shown in FIG. 3 back to its original position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in which the flange 22 is in the groove 29, the boss 28 is in the end of the vial neck 21, closing the ports 30 and communication between the inner and outer barrels. The cap ring 36 is then re- 6 moved entirely from the syringe 10, as by simply pulling on the tab 37 to tear the cap ring apart and permit its removal.

Continued movement of the inner barrel 12 relative to the outer barrel 11 from the position shown in FIG. 3 toward the position shown in FIG. 4, bends the notched external flange 33 inwardly to its position shown in FIG. 4 in which it is over the external flange 23 on the neck 21 and, effectively, locks the plunger to the neck, unifying the plunger and inner barrel and preventing relative movement therebetween, which is another object of the invention. Such movement of the inner barrel 12 relative to the outer barrel 11 may be continued, the plunger 13 serving as a piston to eject the mixture of medicaments from the outer barrel through the needle 55 as in a conventional syringe. Following such ejection of the mixture of medicaments the inner barrel 12 and its plunger 13 may be completely withdrawn from the outer barrel, the parts sterilized and reassembled, following which the syringe 10 may be used as a conventional syringe, or the syringe may be discarded. The parts of the syringe 10 are simple and cheap to make and assemble, permitting economical discard of the syringe after a single use, which is another object of the invention.

I do not desired to be limited to the specific preferred embodiment of the invention or its preferred use, as described herein, but desire to be afforded the full scope of the following claims:

1. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of:

a first tubular reservoir having discharge means and containing a first material in a sterile condition;

a second tubular reservoir containing a second material in a sterile condition and extending into said first reservoir; and

a cup-shaped plunger having an open outer end receiving an inner end of said second reservoir and axially slidable within said first reservoir in response to axial movement of said second reservoir relative to said first reservoir to expel material from said first reservoir through said discharge means, valve means responsive to straight line, axial movement of said second reservoir relative to said plunger to open or close communication between said reservoirs without exposing the contents of either to the ambient atmosphere, said valve means including an annular portion of said plunger which is provided with a port and which is engageable with and disengageable from an annular portion of said second reservoir, said second reservoir and said plunger being freely slidable axially relative to each other to open and close said port, said open end of said plunger being provided with an external skirt having a greater external diameter than the exterior of the balance of said plunger but deformable, when said plunger is moved completely into said first reservoir, to a position in which said skirt engages both the inner circumferential wall of said first reservoir and the external circumferential wall of said second reservoir to provide additional friction resisting relative movement between said reservoirs and preventing relative movement between said plunger and said second reservoir.

2. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of:

a first barrel member forming a first tubular reservoir and having an inner, discharge end and an open outer end;

a second barrel member forming a second reservoir and having a closed outer end and an open inner end extending into said open end of said first barrel, said inner end of said second barrel member being provided with first and second external flanges of substantially the same diameter and longitudinally spaced apart; and

a generally cup-shaped tubular plunger formed of resilient material having an inner end provided with port means and an open outer end, the external diameter of said plunger being substantially the same as the internal diameter of said first barrel member, the internal diameter of said plunger being substantially the same as the external diameter of said first and second flanges, the inner end of said plunger being provided with an annular boss adapted to fit within the open inner end of said second barrel member to form a seal and closure therefor, and said first external flange being adapted to fit snugly between said boss and the inner circumferential wall of said plunger to close said port means formed through the inner end of said plunger in a sealing position, the inner circumferential wall of said plunger being provided with an annular internal flange, said internal flange being spaced longitudinally from said boss a distance sufficient to permit longitudinal movement of said second barrel member relative to said plunger to a position in which said boss is removed from the open end of said second barrel member and open communication is provided through said port means between the interiors of said first and second barrel members, said internal flange being disposed between said external flanges on said second barrel member and engageable with said first external flange to prevent withdrawal of said second barrel member from said plunger when said plunger is within said first barrel member, said internal flange being engageable with said second external flange on said second barrel member when said second barrel member is in said sealing position relative to said plunger, said second barrel member and said plunger being freely axially slidable relative to each other to open and close said port means, the open end of the plunger being provided with an external skirt having a greater external diameter than the exterior of the balance of the plunger but deformable, when the plunger is moved completely into the first barrel member, to a position in which said skirt engages both the interior of said first barrel member and the exterior of said second barrel member and said second external flange to provide additional friction resisting relative movement between said barrels and preventing relative movement between said plunger and said second barrel member.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which latching means is provided between the first barrel member and the external skirt for preventing the plunger from being removed from the first barrel member and preventing such deformation of said skirt, said latching means being deformable to permit said deformation of said skirt and the movement of said plunger completely into said first barrel member.

4. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of:

a first barrel member having an open outer end and having discharge means;

a cup-shaped plunger having an inner end extending into said open end of said first barrel member and having an open end provided with an external skirt of a diameter greater than the internal diametr of said first barrel member extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and seated on the end edge of said open end of said first barrel member;

a second barrel member extending into said open end of said plunger; and

said skirt being deformable, when said plunger is moved axially completely into said first barrel member by said second barrel member, into a deformed position wherein said skirt engages both the inner circumferential wall of said first barrel member and the outer circumferential wall of said second barrel member to provide additional friction resisting relative axial movement of said plunger and said barrel members.

5. A syringe, or the like, according to claim 4, including valve means responsive to relative axial movement of said second barrel member and said plunger for opening and closing communication between said barrel members.

6. A syringe, or the like, according to claim 5, including means responsive to deformation of said skirt into said deformed position for locking said second barrel member relative to said plunger in a position to close said valve means.

7. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of:

a barrel member having an open outer end and having discharge means;

a cup-shaped plunger having an inner end extending into said open end of said barrel member and having an open end provided with an external skirt of a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said first barrel member extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and normally seated on the end edge of said open end of said barrel member; and

said skirt being deformable, when said plunger is moved axially completely into said barrel member, into a deformed position wherein said skirt engages the inner circumferential wall of said barrel member to provide additional friction resisting relative axial movement of said plunger and said barrel member.

8. A syringe, or the like, as set forth in claim 7, including means responsive to deformation of said skirt, into said deformed position; for locking said barrel member and said plunger against relative axial movement. 

1. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of: a first tubular reservoir having discharge means and containing a first material in a sterile condition; a second tubular reservoir containing a second material in a sterile condition and extending into said first reservoir; and a cup-shaped plunger having an open outer end receiving an inner end of said second reservoir and axially slidable within said first reservoir in response to axial movement of said second reservoir relative to said first reservoir to expel material from said first reservoir through said discharge means, valve means responsive to straight line, axial movement of said second reservoir relative to said plunger to open or close communication between said reservoirs without exposing the contents of either to the ambient atmosphere, said valve means including an annular portion of said plunger which is provided with a port and which is engageable with and disengageable from an annular portion of said second reservoir, said second reservoir and said plunger being freely slidable axially relative to each other to open and close said port, said open end of said plunger being provided with an external skirt having a greater external diameter than the exterior of the balance of said plunger but deformable, when said plunger is moved completely into said first reservoir, to a position in which said skirt engages both the inner circumferential wall of said first reservoir and the external circumferential wall of said second reservoir to provide additional friction resisting relative movement between said reservoirs and preventing relative movement between said plunger and said second reservoir.
 2. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of: a first barrel member forming a first tubular reservoir and having an inner, discharge end and an open outer end; a second barrel member forming a second reservoir and having a closed outer end and an open inner end extending into said open end of said first barrel, said inner end of said second barrel member being provided with first and second external flanges of substantially the same diameter and longitudinally spaced apart; and a generally cup-shaped tubular plunger formed of resilient material having an inner end provided with port means and an open outer end, the external diameter of said plunger being substantially the same as the internal diameter of said first barrel member, the internal diameter of said plunger being substantially the same as the external diameter of said first and second flanges, the inner end of said plunger being provided with an annular boss adapted to fit within the open inner end of said second barrel member to form a seal and closure therefor, and said first external flange being adapted to fit snugly between said boss and the inner circumferential wall of said plunger to close said port means formed through the inner end of said plunger in a sealing position, the inner circumferential wall of said plunger being provided with an annular internal flange, said internal flange being spaced longitudinally from said boss a distance sufficient to permit longitudinal movement of said second barrel member relative to said plunger to a position in which said boss is removed from the open end of said second barrel member and open communication is provided through said port means between the interiors of said first and second barrel members, said internal flange being disposed between said external flanges on said second barrel member and engageable with said first external flange to prevent withdrawal of said second barrel member from said plunger when said plunger is within said first barrel member, said internal flange being engageable with said second external flange on said second barrel member when said second barrel member is in said sealing position relative to said plunger, said second barrel member and said plunger being freely axiallY slidable relative to each other to open and close said port means, the open end of the plunger being provided with an external skirt having a greater external diameter than the exterior of the balance of the plunger but deformable, when the plunger is moved completely into the first barrel member, to a position in which said skirt engages both the interior of said first barrel member and the exterior of said second barrel member and said second external flange to provide additional friction resisting relative movement between said barrels and preventing relative movement between said plunger and said second barrel member.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which latching means is provided between the first barrel member and the external skirt for preventing the plunger from being removed from the first barrel member and preventing such deformation of said skirt, said latching means being deformable to permit said deformation of said skirt and the movement of said plunger completely into said first barrel member.
 4. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of: a first barrel member having an open outer end and having discharge means; a cup-shaped plunger having an inner end extending into said open end of said first barrel member and having an open end provided with an external skirt of a diameter greater than the internal diametr of said first barrel member extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and seated on the end edge of said open end of said first barrel member; a second barrel member extending into said open end of said plunger; and said skirt being deformable, when said plunger is moved axially completely into said first barrel member by said second barrel member, into a deformed position wherein said skirt engages both the inner circumferential wall of said first barrel member and the outer circumferential wall of said second barrel member to provide additional friction resisting relative axial movement of said plunger and said barrel members.
 5. A syringe, or the like, according to claim 4, including valve means responsive to relative axial movement of said second barrel member and said plunger for opening and closing communication between said barrel members.
 6. A syringe, or the like, according to claim 5, including means responsive to deformation of said skirt into said deformed position for locking said second barrel member relative to said plunger in a position to close said valve means.
 7. In a syringe, or the like, the combination of: a barrel member having an open outer end and having discharge means; a cup-shaped plunger having an inner end extending into said open end of said barrel member and having an open end provided with an external skirt of a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said first barrel member extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and normally seated on the end edge of said open end of said barrel member; and said skirt being deformable, when said plunger is moved axially completely into said barrel member, into a deformed position wherein said skirt engages the inner circumferential wall of said barrel member to provide additional friction resisting relative axial movement of said plunger and said barrel member.
 8. A syringe, or the like, as set forth in claim 7, including means responsive to deformation of said skirt, into said deformed position, for locking said barrel member and said plunger against relative axial movement. 